Jeanie

About the Campaign

Jeanie is a 14-year-old female Dachshund mix with a soft tissue sarcoma, a cancerous tumor on her backside near her anal glands. Her vet has recommended surgery to remove it, and the good news is that Jeanie has already had a full blood panel and echocardiogram and has been cleared for surgery.

Krystal first noticed the mass in late May while walking Jeanie. She saw something sticking out near Jeanie’s rear and thought it might be a blocked anal gland. The vet expressed the glands, but the lump was still there, so they did a fine needle aspirate. A few days later, Krystal got the call: it was a soft tissue sarcoma, and removal was strongly recommended.

The location makes this surgery more delicate. Because the tumor is close to the anal glands, the vet may not be able to take very wide margins without risking damage to nearby nerves or causing problems with Jeanie going potty. After surgery, the mass can be biopsied to learn more about the stage and what comes next. The goal is to remove as much as safely possible and give Jeanie the best quality of life.

Jeanie came into Krystal and Diego’s life in November 2020, when they found her on Adopt-a-Pet. She was already about 7½ years old, and that was part of what made Krystal love her. They were looking for a Dachshund to adopt, and Jeanie’s funny little look stood out right away. They started with a trial adoption, but by day two they knew she was staying.

Since adopting Jeanie, Krystal has become a strong advocate for senior dogs and shelter dogs. She and Jeanie share that message through their Instagram account, @urdogcalled, where they show the joy of taking a chance on an older dog. Krystal has also volunteered at the Maricopa County Animal Shelter in Mesa, Arizona, walking dogs and posting them online to help them get seen and adopted.

Jeanie’s Instagram:

The timing is very hard financially. Krystal is a stay-at-home mom to their 18-month-old son, Xavier. Diego was working as a mechanic, but two to three weeks ago he was badly burned by hot coolant from a car, with burns to his face, neck, and both hands. He had to go to a burn center, was out of work, and is now switching back to tattoo work while rebuilding clients. Their family was already month to month, and Jeanie’s diagnosis happened right as their income changed.

Jeanie may be 14, but she is still active, silly, playful, and very much herself. Donations will help cover her tumor removal surgery, biopsy, medications, and follow-up care so this sweet senior girl can have the best chance at more good days with the family who loves her. All donations are paid only to the veterinarian. Estimate below, click to enlarge: